The National GUITAR Museum

Looking for a new cover photo? We don’t know who came up...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:40:30 -0500

Looking for a new cover photo?

We don’t know who came up with this image, but we figured it was a good one to use to celebrate reaching 40,000 likes on Facebook and almost 200 followers on Tumblr. Thanks to all of you for reading, and spread the word that this is the place to get your daily guitar fix. All the best from The National GUITAR Museum.

: Ovation – “Glen Campbell Roundbacks” 1969 Ad.One...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:20:46 -0500

: Ovation – “Glen Campbell Roundbacks” 1969 Ad.

One of the keys to Ovation’s early success was Glen Campbell’s desire to walk around the stage of his weekly TV variety show. With multiple stage cameras and different guests appearing throughout the show, Campbell didn’t want to be locked into having to move to pre-positioned microphone stands for his guitar. He pressed Ovation to enhance the onboard electronics that it became known for, and in return he made sure to promote Ovation guitars at every turn.

Campbell’s show was a success, and Ovation almost single-handedly changed the nature of amplified acoustic guitars. Soon, the Campbell ad was joined by ads featuring guitarists as diverse as Cat Stevens and Nancy Wilson.

Clarence Leonidas Fender was awarded a patent on February 22,...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:40:34 -0500

Clarence Leonidas Fender was awarded a patent on February 22, 1966 (47 years ago) for an “electromagnetic pickup for electrical musical instruments.” It was a design for a single-coil under-string pickup that he’d applied for nearly four years earlier on May 11, 1962. Thanks, Leo.

: Roland – “Jimmy Page GR-700 Synth Ad.”In 1985,...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:20:34 -0500

: Roland – “Jimmy Page GR-700 Synth Ad.”

In 1985, Roland was pushing its G-707 guitar controller and GR-700 synth module to guitarists who wanted to get into MIDI in a big way. Jimmy Page had used a guitar controller on the “Death Wish II” soundtrack and Roland got Page to endorse the G-707 in ads and in its brochures—one of the few times Page had endorsed a product to that point.

This Roland guitar synth model only lasted another year past the 1985 ad before being discontinued.

George Harrison was born on February 25th, 1943 (which would...

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:37:40 -0500

George Harrison was born on February 25th, 1943 (which would have made him 70 years old today). His distinctive guitar playing for The Beatles and throughout his solo career helped make the electric guitar the popular instrument it is today. It’s hard to imagine how many guitarists were inspired by his rockabilly-pop-rock playing—the number is indeed countless. Here’s a live version of George and Eric Clapton trading solos on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”http://youtu.be/AbMop1Uloog

: Brian May - “Red Special.” Not having the money to...

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:40:50 -0500

: Brian May - “Red Special.”

Not having the money to buy the kind of electric guitar he really wanted, Brian and his dad set out to build one back in the mid 1960s—from scratch. Using a wide variety of woods, including oak, mahogany, and part of a fireplace mantel, they built a guitar that looked like a solidbody but was in fact semi-hollow: Brian wanted to be able to have the guitar feedback at will. The bridge and trem system were handmade, and the original incarnation featured a built-in distortion unit. The neck has 24 frets and the binding was made from shelf edging. Even though the guitar looks brown, it was originally red from layers of plastic paint.

The Red Special and May’s playing style resulted in one of the most identifiable and singular guitar tones in all of rock (and perhaps THE most recognizable). Replicas of the guitar have been built over the years by both Guild and Burns, but today May himself offers the instrument through his company, Brian May Guitars.

: Gibson Les Paul Signature.This odd member of the Les Paul...

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:20:49 -0500

: Gibson Les Paul Signature.

This odd member of the Les Paul family was produced in limited runs during the mid-1970s. Like its solidbody brethren, it has a gold top and a sharp lower cutaway. But the body is actually semihollow, features two “f” holes, and has a very 335-like upper cutaway and wide bout. Les himself was said to have liked the shape (apparently more than the SG shape, which he did not like), but there wasn’t much of a market for the model. These LP Signatures are rarities as they were produced for only about 5 years with only a few hundred manufactured each year.

As guitarists, we probably value our fingers and hands more than most people. And losing them is something we can't even stand to imagine. Two guys, on opposite sides of the globe, have come up with a way to make very inexpensive (in some cases, free) prosthetics to replace severely damaged fingers using simple materials. Their work is worth our attention.

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:40:34 -0500

As guitarists, we probably value our fingers and hands more than most people. And losing them is something we can't even stand to imagine. Two guys, on opposite sides of the globe, have come up with a way to make very inexpensive (in some cases, free) prosthetics to replace severely damaged fingers using simple materials. Their work is worth our attention.

: “Desperado” - Antonio Banderas & Guitar BarThe...

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 15:20:33 -0500

: “Desperado” - Antonio Banderas & Guitar Bar

The Desperado trilogy by Robert Rodriguez featured Antonio Banderas as a mariachi guitar player whose modified guitars were outfitted with machine guns. And while Banderas did actually play his guitar parts in (most of) the scenes from 1995’s “Desperado,” the coolest guitar feature might have been the backdrop to the bar, which was shaped like an acoustic guitar, complete with flashing strings.

John Dawson Winter III has been a fixture of electric blues...

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:40:25 -0500

John Dawson Winter III has been a fixture of electric blues guitar since 1968 … and today is his 69th birthday. Born in 1944, Johnny’s Texas blues playing as a teenager gained him notoriety across the state, but it was an invitation from Mike Bloomfield that led Johnny to New York. His playing at the Fillmore East led to a record contract from Columbia that was allegedly one of the highest paying of the time. Johnny still tours constantly, and is a member of the NGM Advisory Board. A brand new app covering Johnny’s playing styles and life story is available at http://www.johnnywinter.net/ Happy birthday and all the best, Mr. Winter.

A signed guitar, a one-hour lesson, some lasagna = $250,000...

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:20:51 -0500

A signed guitar, a one-hour lesson, some lasagna = $250,000...

Magic Slim, one of the most notable Chicago electric bluesmen,...

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:44:20 -0500

Magic Slim, one of the most notable Chicago electric bluesmen, died today at age 75. Born Morris Holt, Slim went to Chicago from Mississippi in the 50s and made a name for himself in the club scene of the 60s. A living part of the tradition established by players like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, Slim became a Chicago institution, performing and recording right up until his death. Another part of the blues legacy is gone. RIP, Slim.

: Snow Guitar.For those of you buried under the blizzard, we...

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:40:45 -0500

: Snow Guitar.

For those of you buried under the blizzard, we applaud the efforts of guys like Mark Sepic in Canada, who shows what you can do with a yard full of snow.

: Ice Guitar.We’re still under a couple of feet of snow on...

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:20:47 -0500

: Ice Guitar.

We’re still under a couple of feet of snow on the East Coast, so we’re starting a “Winter Guitar” theme. This guitar sculpture, done a few years ago for a computer convention, feels icy enough for us about now. Add some Albert Collins, and it’s all about staying frosty.

Ted Nugent has gotten more attention in the last four years for...

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:40:27 -0500

Ted Nugent has gotten more attention in the last four years for his politics than for his guitar playing. With his appearance at the State Of The Union address, it’s possible that more people will remember Ted for his right-wing advocacy than for playing the riffs to “Stormtroopin” and “Snakeskin Cowboys” or even “Cat Scratch Fever.” Too bad: the version of “Stranglehold” on Ted’s first solo album is a true classic.

Tony Iommi was born 65 years ago Tuesday, on February 19, 1948....

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:20:43 -0500

Tony Iommi was born 65 years ago Tuesday, on February 19, 1948. A guitarist who needs no introduction, we’re very happy at The National GUITAR Museum to have him on our board of advisors. To celebrate Tony’ birthday, we’ll simply put up this video of one of his early solos. You’ll see how Iommi – as the guiding light of Black Sabbath – shaped the sound of modern hard rock and metal nearly 40 years ago. Enjoy, and happy birthday, Tony. Here’s to many more.http://youtu.be/lKzgOHK3y-0

Kevin Ayers, one of the founding guitarists and songwriters of...

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:03:10 -0500

Kevin Ayers, one of the founding guitarists and songwriters of the psychedelic music movement in the 60s, has died. A man who inspired, and drew inspiration from, his friends Syd Barrett and Jimi Hendrix, Ayers founded Soft Machine at the dawn of the psychedelic era. He toured with Pink Floyd and Hendrix, released some significant solo albums, and then became a recluse. He was 68 when he died. RIP, Mr. Ayers.

For all you Silvertone fans, here’s a shot of the NGM...

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:40:41 -0500

For all you Silvertone fans, here’s a shot of the NGM GUITAR Tour display featuring the Sears’ 1448 Amp-in-Case … originally priced at $67.95.

: Sears Silvertone Amp-In-Case – “Nancy Sinatra”...

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:20:49 -0500

: Sears Silvertone Amp-In-Case – “Nancy Sinatra” Ad

Sears Roebuck introduced its unique Silvertone Amp-In-Case 1448 model at the end of 1962. Designed by Danelectro, the guitar with the amp built right into the case was a big hit with budget-minded players. To add sex appeal to an already novel idea, the Silvertone product got a bump from featuring a very hip Nancy Sinatra cradled around the guitar. The epitome of go-go boot hipness, Nancy appeared in a number of photos with guitars over her career, but it’s not apparent that she ever played any of them.

: Guns N’ Roses - “Appetite For...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:40:41 -0500

: Guns N’ Roses - “Appetite For Destruction.”

Released in 1987, GNR’s debut album force-fed piledriver guitar riffs, the heavy use of wah-wah pedals, and high levels of amplification back into the core of hard rock. Featuring the dual guitars of Izzy Stradlin (Jeff Isbell) and Slash (Saul Hudson), the album was one of the most intense American guitar creations since the heyday of Aerosmith and Van Halen.

From the opening freight train riff of “Welcome To The Jungle” to the closing spaciness of “Rocket Queen,” Slash and Izzy’s guitar sound was loud, abrasive, distorted, and unrelenting. Driven by Gibsons and Marshalls (Slash became Gibson’s de facto Les Paul face for the next two decades), the sound of “Appetite” was angrier than anything else that metal and rock guitarists were playing at the time.

In retrospect, it’s doubtful that any guitarist since Uriah Heep’s Mick Box has gotten as much mileage out of the wah wah pedal as Slash. It is certain to be in evidence on his upcoming solo album, which features a performance by Izzy.